Safety means for refrigerators, etc.



Oct. 29, 1957 w, s, FERDON 2,811,119

SAFETY MEANS FOR REFRIGERATORS, ETC

Filed Nov. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Oct. 29, 1957 w. s. FERDON SAFETY MEANS FOR REFRIGERATORS, ETC

2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed NOV. 8, 1954 INVENTOR A/M/mn J. ra an 2,31 1,1 19 Patented Oct. 29, 1957 SAFETY MEANS FOR REFRIGERATORS, ETC.

William S. Ferdon, Birmingham, Ala.

Application November 8, 1954, Serial No. 467,486

Claims. (Cl. 10963.5)

This invention relates to safety or anti-locking devices for refrigerators, ice boxes and trunks or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-locking device for refrigerators or the like which will prevent deaths due to sufiocation of children who enter the refrigerator or the like while at play.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an antilocking device for refrigerators or the like which embodies a simple, inexpensive means of insuring that the box will close and lock when in transit from store to home and when in use in the home, but which, upon the food being removed and a child attempting to enter the refrigerator in the home, will prevent the refrigerator or the like from locking or closing and wherein, if the refrigerator is discarded, it will not lock or close.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an anti-locking device for refrigerators or the like which may be easily and readily installed on conventional refrigerators, ice boxes, etc. already in use with a minimum of time and effort.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an anti-locking device which may be built into the refrigerator, ice box or the like and which will prevent the door from closing and locking upon the removal of one of the shelves of the refrigerator, without which removal the child cannot enter the refrigerator.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an anti-locking device for refrigerators or the like which is triggered by the weight of a child or the space occupied by the child when entering the refrigerator.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a refrigerator showing the door open and the invention in operative use therewithin;

Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal sectional view thereof taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view thereof on an enlarged scale taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of Fig. 3 but showing the bolt after it has been sprung to prevent the closing of the door;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a modified form of the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, 10 indicates generally a conventional refrigerator having a bottom wall 11 and a hingeably mounted door 12, substantially as illustrated.

In the practice of my invention, a bottom plate 13 adapted to overlie the bottom wall 11 is secured thereto in suitable manner, for example by means of bolts 14, the bottom plate 13 serving to mount a pair of oppositely disposed, substantially parallel, channel-shaped side walls 15, substantially of U-shaped cross section.

A movable upper plate 16 adapted to overlie the bottom plate 13 is supported thereabove by means of the tour corner springs 17, the upward displacement of the movable plate 16 being limited by the overhanging portions of the side plates 15 in an obvious manner (Fig. 1). Thus, the construction is similar to that of a spring scale.

The interior of the refrigerator 10 on the inner faces of the opposite sides thereof is provided with a vertically spaced bracket 18 which support thereon the movable trays 19in the usual manner.

Four upper tie rods 20 are pivotally connected to the lowermost tray 19 by means of eyes 21 integrally formed at their upper ends, the lower ends of the rods 30 being externally threaded and screwed into the turnbuckle 22. Four eyes 23 are secured to the movable plates 16 by means of welding or the like and at the four corners thereof directly below the tie rods 20 and serve to secure therethrough the hooked lower ends of the lower tie rods 24, the upper ends of the lower tie rods 24 being externally threaded and screwed into the turnbuckles 22. By means of the turnbuckles 22, the tie rods may be adapted for shelves 19 of varying heights, as will be obvious. Thus, as longas the shelf 19 is supported on the brackets 18, it will retain the movable plate 16 in its upper position due to the tie rods. 20, 24.

A hollow casing 25 is mounted on the supporting plate 13 below the movable plate 16, the front wall 26 thereof having a circular opening which slidably receives therethrough a belt or shaft 27. The inner end of the shaft 27 is integrally formed with an enlarged head 28 adapted to abut a downwardly struck stop 29 provided in the top wall of the casing 25 whereby to limit the outward displacement of the shaft 27, as shown in Fig. 4. A notch 31 is provided in the shaft 27 for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear. A pin 31 is suitably secured to the inner face of the rear wall of the casing 25 in longitudinal alignment with the shaft 27 and serves to mount thereon one end of a spring 32, the other end of the spring 32 abutting the head 28 and tending to urge the shaft 27 outwardly of the casing.

In order to retain the shaft 27 against outward displacement, a catch plate 33 extends inwardly of the casing 16 through an opening 34 in the rear wall thereof, the plate 33 terminating in a shank 35 which is integrally formed at right angles thereof with a supporting shank 36 suitably secured at its upper end to the undersurface of the movable plate 16. Thus, when the plate 16 is in the raised position of Figs. 1 and 3, the head 28 will be received within the notch or cut out 37 provided in the plate 33 whereby to limit the outward displacement of the shaft 27 under the action of the spring 32. However, upon removal of the tray 19 and the tie rods 20, 24 thereof from the eyes 23, the movable plate 16 will be free to move downwardly under abnormal weight, for example that of a child playing inside the refrigerator. This will move the catch plate 33 downwardly to disengage the head 28 from slot 37 and to cause the shaft 27 to move outwardly through the front wall of casing 16 under the action of spring 32. H

To insure the locking of the shaft 27 in its operative, outwardly displacement position, a cylinder 38 is provided on the inner face of the front wall 26 and houses a spring 39 which tends to move the plunger 40 upwardly toward shaft 27. A finger 41 is fixedly carried by the upper surface of the plunger 40 and is adapted to be received within the notch 30 whereby to prevent the shaft 27 from returning inwardly under the action of the door 12 (Fig. 4). To limit the upward displacement of the plunger 40, a pin 42 fixedly carried thereby rides in a vera? tical slot 43 provided in the cylinder 38. Thus, when the shaft is locked by the catch plate 33, the upper end of the finger 41 will abut the undersurface of the shaft in tensional engagement therewith. However, upon outward movement of the shaft under the action of spring 32 upon depression of plate 16, the spring urged finger 41 will move upwardly into the notch 30 to prevent the return movement of the shaft under the action of the door 12, whereby to prevent the latter from closing and locking.

Referring now particularly to Figs. and 6, there is shown a modified form of the present invention adapted to be used in combination with the first form of the invention or alone and which will be built into new refrigerators, ice boxes or the like.

In this form, the side wall 44 of the refrigerator is provided with a hollow compartment 45 intermediate the inner and outer wallsthereof. The inner wall 46 is provided with upper and lower openings 47 and 48 respectively. It will be noted that the opening 47 is adjacent the bracket 18 supporting the uppermost tray 19a. A cover plate 49 is secured across the opening 47 and in- ,cludes an opening 50 through which extends a toggle bolt 51 rotatably mounted on a shaft 52. The inner end of the toggle bolt or shaft 51 fixedly carries a pin 53 which receives thereon one end of a spring 54, the other end of the spring 54 being received within a cylinder 55 mounted at the top of the hollow portion 45, the spring 54 tending to urge the bolt or shaft 51 in a clockwise direction about the shaft 52. However, the bolt 51 will normally be retained in a horizontal position by the weight thereon of the uppermost tray 19a.

A hearing member 56 is mounted on the inner face of the outer wall 44 and slidably receives downwardly therethrough an elongated rod 57. The upper end of the rod 57 is pivotally connected to a link 58 which is in turnpivotally connected to the inner end of the shaft 51 so that upon upward movement of the latter, the shaft 57 will be displaced downwardly through bearing member 56.

A cylinder 59 is suitably secured at the lower end of the hollow portion 45 and houses a spring 60 which reacts with a shaft or bolt 61 slidably received within the cylinder 59. The shaft 61 is provided with a notch 62 which is adapted to receive upwardly therewithin the correspondingly shaped upper end of a plunger 63 slidable vertically within a cylinder 64 suitably mounted at the bottom of the hollow portion 45, the plunger 63 being urged upwardly into the notch 62 by means of a spring 65. Thus the shaft 61 will be prevented against outward displacement under the action of spring 60. However, a lateral pin 65 is fixedly carried by the plunger 63, the outer end of the pin 65 being connected to the lower end of the rod 57.

Thus, upon the removal of the tray 19a by the child or the like to permit his body to be received within the refrigerator, the spring 54 will rotate the toggle bolt 51 in a clockwise direction and moving the rod 57 downwardly and moving the plunger63 downwardly against the action of spring 65 to disengage the upper end thereof from notch 62 and to permit the outward displacement of the shaft 61 to the dotted line position of Fig. 6 where it will abut the door 12 and prevent the latter from closing and the lock portion thereof from engaging with the conventional latch 62'. It will be noted in this form of the invention that it is not the weight of the child but the space occupied by his body which triggers the anti-locking device. A cover plate 63' is secured across the opening 48 and may be removed when it is desired to reset the mechanism. It will be noted that without removal of plate 63',

once the bolt 61 has been sprung, it will be impossible to N close the door. The cylinder 64 is provided with a slot P 66 which receives therewithin the pin A pin 67 is fixedly carried by the shaft 61 extending outwardly through an elongated slot 68 provided in cylinder 59, the pin 67 serving to abut the latch 62' whereby to limit the outward displacement of the shaft 61 from the cylinder.

Returning to the first form of the invention, it will be noted that the tie rods 24 must be hooked to the movable plate 16 and that if the shelf 19 is removed, the tie rods must be unhooked or unscrewed at the turnbuckles 22. Thus, as long as the tray 19 is in position within the refrigerator, no child can possibly fit inside.

The bolt 27, as shown in the drawing, is used to block the closing of the door 12. However, it may similarly be employed to actuate other mechanisms (to be built in in making refrigerators which would prevent the actual lock on the door from working). This could be effected .by a tubular extension in which a rod actuated by said bolt would cause action opposite the lock on the door and plug the lock mechanism.

It will thus be seen from the first form of the invention that a human body could not possibly get into the refrigerator without removing the tray 19, and that the weight of said body on the floor plate 16 would release the trigger mechanism to prevent the door from being locked. Yet, as long as the shelf was in the box or refrigerator, the latter would, under all circumstances, function normally even if empty or inthe process of being moved.

Thus, the first form of the invention is easily attachable to any present refrigerator or the like to accommodate the millions already in use, this attachment being simple and inexpensive. Modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the invention. For example, instead of the entire plate 16 being movable, only a threshold portion thereof need be so constructed. In this case only two sup porting rod constructions would be necessary and these rods could be permanently mounted into the plate on each side. The upper ends would then be provided with the hooks which might be fastened to the front of the shelf or to the shelf holder groove, permitting the shelf to be slidably pulled out but not removed.

It should now be apparent that there have been provided anti-locking devices for refrigerators or the like which are triggered by the weight of the human body or the displacement of the space of said body or a combination of both and which will prevent the door of the refrigerator or the like from closing and becoming locked toeliminatedeaths from suffocation by children caught therewithin;

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is;

1. In a cabinet having a door movable from an open to'a closed position, a bottom wall within said cabinet movable from an upper to a lower position, a reciprocal plunger mounted in said cabinet and movable into the path of closing movement of said door to block closing of same, resilient means normally urging said plunger to door-blocking position, and means associated with said plunger operative to lock same in its door-blocking position when said bottom wall is in its lower position, whereby to maintain said door against closing.

2. The cabinet of claim 1', said bottom Wall being normally biased to its upper position by spring means.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet having a hinged door and removable trays, a bottom wall within said refrigerator cabinet movable from an upper to a lower position and 'hormally biased to the former, means associated with said bottom wall for preventing closing of said hinged door when said bottom wall is in said lower position, and detachable supporting means interconnecting said bottom wall with a portion of the refrigerator interior located thereabove for preventing downward displacement of said bottom wall.

4. The refrigerator cabinet of claim 3, said last-mentioned supporting means comprising a plurality of tie rods connected at their lower ends to said bottom wall and at their upper ends to one of the refrigerator trays, each of said tie rods including a turnbuckle to permit adjustment of the device for varying sized refrigerator cabinets.

5. In a cabinet having a door movable from an open to a closed position, a bottom wall within said cabinet movable from an upper to a lower position, a reciprocable plunger mounted in said cabinet and movable into the path of closing movement of said door to block closing of same, resilient means normally urging said plunger to door blocking position, a casing having a front and rear wall mounted at the bottom of the cabinet below said bottom wall, the front wall of said casing having an opening therethrough slidably receiving said plunger, a second opening in said casing rear wall, a catch plate within said casing having a shank extending outwardly through said rear wall opening, the outer end of said shank having an upwardly extending portion connected to said bottom wall, said catch plate and said plunger having cooperating portions which interengage when said bottom wall is at its upper position to limit outward displacement of said plunger and which disengage when said bottom wall is in its lower position to allow said plunger to move to door blocking position, a notch on said plunger, and spring loaded latch means adapted to engage said notch whereby to lock the plunger in door blocking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 511,455 Plummer Dec. 26, 1893 679,847 Ives Aug. 6, 1901 725,552 Gerald Apr. 14, 1903 911,176 Stevenson Feb. 2, 1909 1,271,363 Ralston July 2, 1918 1,547,999 Farabough et al. July 28, 1925 1,555,625 Beisler Sept. 29, 1925 2,259,389 Metzerott Oct. 14, 1941 2,585,919 Davis Feb. 19, 1952 2,639,957 Geller May 26, 1953 

